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organizing my most useful kitchen tools

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I love healthy food, but I love it more when it doesn’t taste like healthy food. Best of both worlds! Click around to find some of my tried and true staples - and new recipes too, whether my own ideas, inspired by other blogs, torn from the pages of a magazine, or passed through friends or family. Learn more about me and My Utensil Crock HERE.

In January, I looked at a 4-pound bag of Domino's sugar and had a moment of terror. I bake a lot. This, you know. Recipes for baked treats usually have at least a cup of sugar in them, if not two or more. I go through that 4-pound bag in no time at all.
I was not at all ready for a January cleanse of any sort, but I decided that in February, … Keep Reading

In a decade far far away, but really like 6 blocks from where I live, I worked in a different office than I do now. And at that office, it was the job of two people, annually, to chair the "Sunshine Committee," which consisted of exactly two people, and served as a morale booster for the employees. I was younger then - much younger - and had … Keep Reading

This is a very special "Snow Day Snacks" - WIND DAY edition.
There was much hype this week about impending high winds today. The forecast was no joke: gusts up to 70 MPH. The news started stressing that the weather would be hazardous during the morning commute, and last night one of the more rural school systems canceled school for today. These … Keep Reading

The memories associated with this chicken salad!
During the first summer of law school, between my first (1L) and second (2L) years, I lived in a large studio apartment in Chicago above a Whole Foods. Did not have to go outside to shop. It was my introduction to yuppies amassing in the same place to pick up prepared food at the end of the … Keep Reading

This is the winter of Turkey Chili.
I feel like it's everywhere! And why shouldn't it be? Turkey Chili is such a great meal - lean meat, beans, vegetables, tomato - so filling, one-pot, easy to make on a weeknight... need I go on?
I will. Turkey Chili is easy to carry to work for lunch, and you can always have the ingredients on-hand to … Keep Reading

I am a meat and potatoes kind of girl. It's how I grew up, it's what I like, and I can't deny it.
I don't cook a lot of steaks at home though. I think steak is just one of those things that is better when eaten out. Is this because steak houses paint their steaks with butter? Hard to say. Haaaard to say. And living in an apartment, grilling is … Keep Reading

!Very. Special. Recipe. Alert!
I had not had these cookies in probably 25 years, but when I made this batch and took one bite, I was instantly transported back to my early teens. I don't have many Proustian madeleine moments, but this was a big one. Totally back in Indiana, complete with peg-rolled jeans and intense bangs that were re-styled … Keep Reading

I was so excited to come home to this today.
I skipped breakfast and took Tazewell on a nice long walk this morning, and as we started for home, I suddenly wished I had a big salty sandwich. Cravings, man. I thought about stopping at The Italian Store for some prosciutto, but then remembered I had THESE leftovers in my fridge.
No, it's … Keep Reading

If I had to pick, potatoes may be my favorite food. Definitely among my very favorite foods. Top three for sure.
And potatoes are at their finest when fried. I like the mushy and medium fries best though, not the little crunchy pieces. I mean, I will finish any fries that even slow down in front of me, but I prefer fries to have a little … Keep Reading

I have had this recipe in my electronic "stack of pages torn from magazines" for years and years. This is not metaphorical - at one point, I scanned in like 100 recipes I had ripped out of magazines. It looked good to me, but I always shy away from alfredo sauces at restaurants, because I am sure they are pure cream and cheese. I honestly can't … Keep Reading